Button sewing attachment



Jan. .16, 1940. V, J MU5ZYN5K| 2,187,137

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT Filed May 5, 1939 l 3 ZIEL. 5/

ATTO R N EYS Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiCE BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT Vincent J. Muszynski, Buffalo, N. Y.

v Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 271,919

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved attachment for sewing machines and more particularly to an attachment for sewing buttons and the like to cloth.

It has been proposed in the past to provide special attachments for conventional sewing machines whereby the sewing on of buttons may be accomplished more or less automatically. Such attachments have, in the past, generally conl0 templated and provided for the sewing on of :dat buttons wherein several thread openings extended through the button. In my present invention I provide a simple attachment whereby shank bute tons may be sewed on with machines of the same 15 type by merely substituting the attachment of the present inventionl for the attachments which are presently provided for sewing on buttons of the mor-e common type.

In the following description and in the drawing, for the purpose of setting forth in detail a specific embodiment of the principles of my invention, I shallV have reference to a standard l Singer sewing machine of the general type shown in the patent to Sullivan No. 777,564 dated December 13, 1904. It is to be understood, however, thatreference to a particular sewing in achine and to specific details oi construction of one form of my improved attachment is for purposes of exemplication only and my invention 430 is not to be considered as limited thereby or in any other way, save as defined in the appended claims. y

Such machines and mechanisms as have been heretofore proposed for the purpose of applying shank buttons have either been unduly complicated or have necessitated the utilization of a wholly vspecial and unique sewing machine. In other instances the objection has been that individual buttons were not adequately located or held in proper position during the sewing 0n operation. The present invention aims to provide a simple attachment whichadapts itself readily to standard sewing machines which are now conveniently available and in which ample provision is made both for original location of buttons with respect to the sewing mechanism and for rmly retaining buttons in located position until completion of the sewing on operation. A further merit of the attachment ofv my invention is its flexibility as regards the accommodation of buttons varying widely in size and shape. Other advantages will appear from a consideration of the accompanying drawingand ensuing description. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a topplan View of my improved sewing machine attachment;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View thereof with portions of the head of a sewing machine indicated in dot and dash lines; y 5

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary elevational View similar to Fig. 2 but taken from the opposite side of the attachment; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional View taken approximately on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1. l0

In the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I0 designates a pvot block which is adapted to be positioned on the table of the sewing machine. A screw II serves to pivotally position the block Ill on the l5 table of the machine and performs certain other functions the nature of which will presently appear. A bar I2 is fixed to the under side of the block lil by the passage therethrough of the screw il and by Virtue of a locating pin or dowel I3 2O vwhichkpasses through the pivot block I0 and the bar I2.

The bar I2 is notched on its under side at a point spaced from the pivot-block IIB and such notch is adapted to engage over a plate I 5 which 25 is provided upon the table of standard Singer sewing machines of the type mentioned above. The plate I5 is connected with suitable mechanism provided beneath the table of the machine and is thereby adapted to be reciprocated in timed 30 relation with the operation of the stitching head of the machine.

As viewed in Fig. 1 the reciprocation of the plate I5 is in the direction from top to bottom of the sheet of drawing, or, as seen in Fig. 2, is a 35 direction toward and away from the observer. 'Ihese reciprocations are translated into pivotal oscillation of the bar I2 and the pivot block I in a horizontal plane and about the screw II by virtue of a connection between the bar I2 and 40 the plate I5. This connection may simply be in the form of a screw (not shown) which passes through the bar I2 and the plate l5 and is conventional construction in machines of the type referred to above. 45

To the outer end of the bar I2 there is secured a plate I 8 having an offset securing portion I 9. The portion i9 may be secured directly against the end portion of the bar l2 as by a screw 253 and in ther illustrated embodiment a numberl 50' of locating dowel pins 2I are provided. The plate I8 is provided for the purpose of supporting and positioning suitable button clamping means and means for controlling the button clamping and unclamping movements of such means and to this 55 end there is provided a relatively stationary clamping element in the form of a block 24 which is secured directly to the plate I8 as by means of screws 25. One edge of the block 24 is notched as at 26 and such notch is adapted to receive the shank 21 of a button 28 as is best Shown in Fig. l. The notch 26 is also adapted to permit downward passage of the needle both through the opening in the button shank and adjacent the end of the shank in alternate stitches. To this end an opening in the plate I8, approximately coincident with the notch 26, is also provided.

A pair of parallel rabbetted guide rails 29 and 3B are secured to the plate |8 and a slidable clamping plate 3| iS disposed therebetween and partially thereunder and is guided thereby for movement toward and away from the stationary clamping block 24. The edge of the clamping plate 3| which is toward the block 24 is provided with an upturned flange 32 which, in use, engages against the front or outer face of the button 28 when the device is in clamping position.

The movable clamping plate 3| is normally spring-urged to a clamping position and the means for controlling clamping and unclamping movements thereof operate automatically or semiautomatically in a manner and by mechanism which will now be described. A control lever 35 is pivotally secured at one end adjacent the clamping plate 3| and such pivotal securement may be eiTected by providing an intermediate plate 36 adjustably fixed with respect to the one of the guide rails 29 by a screw and slot connection 31, the intermediate plate 36 pivotally supporting the lever 35 as by means of the bolt and nut connection 38.

An intermediate portion of the lever 35 connects with the clamping plate 3| by means of a longitudinal slot 39 formed in the lever and a cooperating screw 40 which is threaded into the clamping plate 3|, see Fig. 4. So that buttons of various sizes may be accommodated, several spaced threaded openings 4| are provided in the plate 3| for alternatively receiving the lever connecting screw 40. The outer end of the lever 35 is pivotally engaged by one end of a link 42 which forms part of a toggle linkage, the other link 43 of which has its outer end pivotally attached to a rigid portion of the attachment, as for instance the guide rail 3D. 'Ihe adjacent ends of the links 42 and 43 of the toggle linkage are pivotallyconnected to each other and to an operating link 44.

When the operating link 44 is moved from right to left as viewed in Figs. l and 2 the toggle 42, 43 is spread and the lever 35 is pivoted counterclockwise around its pivotal mounting as viewed in Fig. 1 and the movable clamping element is moved away from the Stationary clamp block 24. It will be seen that this movement is resiliently resisted by a coil spring 4l, one end of which is anchored to the iixed pivot of the toggle link 43 while the other end is connected to the outer end of the other toggle link 42. The manner in which the operating link 44 is moved to effect unclamping movements will presently appear.

What may be termed a lifter bar is indicated at and the right hand end of this bar, as seen in Figs. l and 2, extends downwardly and is received in a groove formed in a block 5| which is secured to the bar l2 as by a screw 52. The bar 50 is so arranged in the groove in the block 5| as to have pivotal movement about the groove in a vertical plane and a leaf spring 54, which is secured under the head of the pivot screw has a notched outer terminal portion which engages about an upwardly projecting stud which is rigidly associated with the bar 50, by reason of which the leaf spring 54 accompanies the bar 5D in its pivotal movements about the screw and the leaf spring urges the bar 58 downwardly about its pivotal mounting in the grooved block 5|.

By reason of the foregoing construction the entire assembly comprising the blocks l0 and 5| and the bars |2 and 50, together with the leaf spring 54 and the plate I8 carried by the bar |2, is oscillated about the pivot screw in response to reciprocations of the plate I5, which in turn is actuated by conventional mechanism provided beneath the table of machines of the class under consideration.

Toward the forward or free end of the bar 50 a hook 5l is rigidly associated with its upper side and the hook 5l is adapted to cooperate with a vertically reciprocating rod or bar 58 which forms a conventional part of machines of the class for which the attachment of the present invention is primarily intended. The bar or rod 58 terminates downwardly in a hook engaging part 59 and is conventionally associated with the head 60 of sewing machines of this class.

The outer terminal portion ofl the bar 50 is notched as indicated at 64 in Fig. 1 and in such manner that when the bar overlies a button held in the clamping means, as illustrated in the drawing, space is provided for the downward passage of a sewing needle S5 which is carried by a conventional needle bar 6B. By the arrangement shown and described the button is forcibly prevented from pulling out of the clamping means upon upward or return movement of the needle and is in effect stripped therefrom by the terminal portion of the bar 50 which overlies the button.

At the conclusion of the actual sewing of the button to cloth in the intended manner, the bar 50 is given an upward movement, either automatically upon termination of the sewing-on operation or, as is at present more usual, by manipulation of a foot treadle by the operator. The upward movement of the bar 50, about its pivotal mounting in the groove in the block 5|, lifts the outer end of the bar away from its position above the button and also positively releases the clampv ing mechanism so that the button may be lifted from its position in the attachment by merely moving the cloth to which it has been sewed to a new position or away from the machine.

The manner in which upward movements of the bar 5E! effect unclamping movements of the clamping means will now be described. Referring to Fig. 3, the plate |8 is provided with an upstanding flange 'ID which Serves as a pivotal support for a bell crank having a pair of arms and 12. The outer end of the arm 1| has pivotally connected thereto a link '|4 which may be in the form of a strap which pivotally engages one end of the link 44, the other end of which has been described as having pivotal connection with the central joint of the toggle 42, 43.

The other arm 'l2 of the bell crank is disposed for engagement with an element which is rigidly but adjustably associated with the bar 50 in such manner that upward pivotal movement of the bar 5I! produces counterclockwise pivotal movement of the bell crank 1|, l2 as viewed in Fig. 3 or clockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 2 and consequent movement of the links 'I4 and 44 toward the clamping elements. Movement of the links 'M- and '14 in this direction will, it is clear, result in spreading movement of thetoggle links 42, i3 and result in opening movement of. the movable clamping element 3l through the medium of the lever and against the resistance of the coil spring ll.

The bell crank engaging means associated with the bar 50 comprises a pivot-bearing flange 80 having a base portion 3 i, the base portion El being secured to the bar 5B, preferably bymeans of screws S2 which threadedly engage the barA 5t through a longitudinal slot 83 formed in the base portion 8i of the pivot-bearing flange di). An arm 35 is secured to the bearing flange Bil by means of a screw 8S and it is to be understood that the position of the arm 85 is normally fixed with respect to the bar 5i), pivotal movement of the former being resorted to only for the purpose of adjustment. The outer end of the arm 85 has associated therewith a headed stud 8l which engages the under side of the arm 'l2 of the bell crank lever during upward movement of the bar 5t to effect rotation of the bell crank against the resilient resistance of the coil lspring M.

It is believed that theoperation of the attachment of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing. The relative positions of the several parts as they are illustrated in the accompanying drawing are the positions they occupy during the operation of sewing on a button. At the completion of the sewing on operation the operator will usually be required to manipulate a treadle or other manual control device for lifting the bar til about its pivot in the groove of the block 5l, through the medium of the lifting bar 58 and against the resistance of the spring '41. As has been set forth in detail, such lifting movement effects a button-releasing or unclamping movement in two ways. First, the terminal portion of the bar E@ is lifted from its position overlying the button, in which position it serves in the nature of a vertical clamping member; and seoond, the horizontally movable clamping member 'til is moved away from the button whereby the button may be moved from the sewing-on position without resistance.

The foregoing attachment is simple and practical tc use and may be employed with standard machines without alteration or interference with the usual construction of the sewing machine proper. By its use buttons throughout a fairly wide range of sizes may be placed in the sewing position and securely held with a minimum of effort and inconvenience and, consequently, withv l. An attachment for button sewing machines of the class described comprising a horizontally pivotal arm adapted to be engaged by a moving part of the machine for being alternately oscillated between successive stitches, button retaining means including a plate portion secured to the outer end of said arm for oscillation therewith and in vertical alignment with the stitching mechanism or" the machine, an opening therethrough for the passage of a sewing machine needle, a stationary clamping element disposed at one side of said opening and a clamping element at the opposite side of said opening and movable upon said plate portion toward and away from the stationary clamping element, resilient means urging said movable clamping element toward the stationary clamping element, and toggle linkage acting `between said movable clamping element and an actuating-element associated with the sewing machine proper for moving said movable clamping element away from the stationary clamping element against the resistance of said spring at the conclusion of a button sewing operation.

2. In a button sewing machine, the combination with stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, of a work support comprising a dat plate portion having disposed thereon a stationary clamp portion having anedge thereof notched to accommodate the shank portion of a shank button and a cooperating clamp portion movable toward and away from said stationary clamp portion, a vertical clamping element adapted in operative position to overlie a button disposed between said first two clamp portions and movable to unclamping position, and means engagingbetween said vertical clamping element and said movable clamp portion for moving said movable clamp portion away from said .stationary clamp portion at the conclusion of a button sewing operation concurrently with the moving of said vertical clamping element to unclamping position.

3. An attachment for sewing machines of the l class described for positioning and holding shank buttons during sewing-on operations, said attachment comprising a movably mounted element attachable to a reciprocating part of a Sewing machine for being reciprocated thereby between successive stitches, horizontally directed clamp-ing means supported by said movable element and including an element movable between button clamping and non-clamping positions, said movable clamping element having means associating it with a portion of said sewing machine which is adapted to be manipulated between button sewing operations for successively effecting button unclamp-ing and clamping movements, resilient means urging said movable clamping element to clamping position, and horizontally extending toggle linkage acting between an actuating element of the sewing machine and the movable element of said clamping means for effecting unclamping movement at the conclusion of a button sewing operation.

4. In a Abutton sewing machine, the combination with stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, of a vertically moving clamp baradapted to ove-rlie a button when in clamping position, and a work support comprising a ilat plate portion having horizontally separable clamping elements disposed thereon, operating mechanism for said horizontally separable clamping elements comprising a toggle joint having one end anchored to said work support and the opposite end attached to one of said horizontal separable clamping elements, and means engaging between said vertically moving clamp bar and the medial pivot oi' said toggle joint for effecting separation of said horizontal clamping elements concurrently with upward unclamping movement of said vertically moving clamp bar.

5. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a reciprocable n-eedle, a head for supporting the same, and a manually operable vertically movable barlikewise supported by said head;

said attachment having a work support comprising a dat plate portion having disposed thereon a stationary clamp element and a horizontally movable clamping element for cooperation therewith, and means engagingl between said manually operable bar and said horizontally movable clamping element for eiiecting horizontal unadapted in operative position to overlie a button disposed between said stationary and horizontally movable clamping elements, said horizontally and vertically movable clamping elements being connected for conjoint movement, and means engageable between said manually operable bar and one of said movable clamping elements for effecting unclamping movements of both movable clamping elements upon manipulation of said manually operable bar.

VINCENT J. MUSZYNSKI. 

